Sunday, August 31, 2008

COMRADES - THE PAY CALCULATOR XL WORKSHEET can be downloaded by clicking on the below mentioned rapidshare link. In the XL Work Sheet all you have to do is type your 1.1.2006 BASIC PAY / AMOUNT OF INCREMENT / MONTH OF INCREMENT /GRADE PAY / % OF HRA / and AMOUNT OF TRAVELLING ALLOWANCE RECOMMENDED BY PAY COMMISSION and press ENTER in the KEYBOARD. You will get all the information you require including the position AS ON 1.1.06; 1.7.06; 1.1.08; 1.7.08; and 1.9.08 AS WELL AS THE QUANTUM OF ARREARS YOU ARE ELIGIBLE ETC. TRY FOR YOURSELF AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH NFPE. NFPE thanks the Comrades who extended this technical help for the benefit of our comrades all over the country.

Minsitry of Finance has issued orders vide OM: F.No.1/1/2008/IC Dated 30th August 2008 on Implementation of pay commission recommendations and fixation of pay and payment of arrears.

It is ordered that bills may be drawn separately for arrears from 1.1.2006 to 31.08.2008 after deducing subscriptions at the enhanced rates for GPF and NPS and then calculating 40% of quantum for payment.

For facilitating immediate fixation of pay in the new pay band and for disbursement of arrears it is ordered that the payment be made without any pre-check. Therefore the payment of arrears will be made with the condition that subject to adjustments against discrepancies.

In authorizing arrears the Income Tax due would also be adjusted before making payment.

The above OM contains detailed work sheet for fixation of pay in revised Pay Bands for each and every official in different basic pay in different scale of pay. This will help expediting fixation of pay in new Pay Band and for payment of arrears to every employee.

To view or download this important Finance Ministry OM, Comrades may click on the Rapidshare Link provided below:

Minsitry of Finance has issued orders vide OM: F.No.1/1/2008/IC Dated 30th August 2008 on Implementation of pay commission recommendations and fixation of pay and payment of arrears.

It is ordered that bills may be drawn separately for arrears from 1.1.2006 to 31.08.2006 after deducing subscriptions at the enhanced rates for GPF and NPS and then calculating 40% of quantum for payment.

For facilitating immediate fixation of pay in the new pay band and for disbursement of arrears it is ordered that the payment be made without any pre-check. Therefore the payment of arrears will be made with the condition that subject to adjustments against discrepancies.

In authorizing arrears the Income Tax due would also be adjusted before making payment.

The above OM contains detailed work sheet for fixation of pay in revised Pay Bands for each and every official in different basic pay in different scale of pay. This will help expediting fixation of pay in new Pay Band and for payment of arrears to every employee.

To view of download this important Finance Ministry OM, Comrades may click on the Rapidshare Link provided below:

Dear Comrades - The Gazette Notification by the Government of India has been published yesterday night in the website of Ministry of Finance. This was done after we published the unofficial copy of Notification in our website. Now we can say that what is exhibited by us is authentic. However comrades who want to verify the original Notification of Gazette can visit the Finance Ministry website http://www.finmin.nic.in - Both Hindi and English version of Notification is available in the above Finance Ministry website. Since the official Notification has been published by the Government, we are giving out our priliminary comments and observations on the common issues hereunder:

CHQ REACTION TO OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION TO BE RELEASED

Dear Comrades – The Notification officially to be released tomorrow or on Monday only.

NEGATIVE:

1.As already analysed by the National Executive of Confederation of Central Government Employees the denial of Need Based Minimum Wage as per 15th ILC norms Rs.10,000 for Group 'D' but only granting of Rs.7,000 as Minimum wage to Group 'C' is most disappointing.

2.The fitment formula of 1.86 times of basic pay as on 1.1.2006 do not ensure even minimum wage rise of 40% to employees while the Group A officers

3.Group D employees without Matriculation qualification would only get the fitment in 1S scale with 1300/- grade pay and not PB-1 scale with 1800/- pay now until they are retrained suitably. The Non-Matriculate Group D officials who retired between 1.1.2006 and now would not be eligible for the PB-1 at all and thus deprived even this minimum wage of 7,000/- level and therefore their pension benefit would go down. A major disappointment.

4.Recommendation of pay commission to not to allow Merger of Dearness Allowance with Basic Pay at any stage is accepted. This is going to make a big difference and negative impact on our wages in future.

5.Special Duty Allowance [SDA] is accepted by the Government as recommended by pay commission only and without any modification sought for by the Staff Side to ensure the Allowance paid without any condition for all employees working in the NE Region. Notification says that employees without any all India transfer liability condition but transferred within the Region from one area to another are made available with the SDA. This will however cause denial to large number of employees who are not transferred from their area of recruitment to another area.

6.Transport Allowance - The employees below Rs.4000/- basic pay in the existing pay scales are going to get very less increase because of acceptance of recommendation for abolition of CCA.

7.Government's acceptance of Modified ACP Scheme though increased to 3 financial upgradations instead of 2 recommended by Pay Commission, will be causing problems to those CG Employees who were getting upgradation to higher scale of pay as per their existing hierarchy. In fact the third upgradation declared might only ensure reaching the level of second upgradations in the existing system. [The case will be different in Postal as this modified systemis not going to adversely affect if implemented in the DOP – detail discussed below]

8.Flexi-time for women employees and flexi-week recommended for physically challenged are rejected by the Government.

POSITIVE:

1.Transport Allowancefor those employees in the basic pay of 4000/- in revised pay scales also will be on par with those who are in grade pay level of 4200/- to 4800/-. These employees will get 1600/- + DA on it in Metro Cities and 800/- + DA on it in all other places.

2.Campus restriction for Transport Allowance is removed by the Government so that all employees who occupy campus attached quarters [like SPM Quarters] will also be eligible for Transport Allowance.

Benefit of one increment is given to avoid bunching of more than two stages in the revised running pay bands [But @ 3% of basic pay in pay band without including Grade Pay].

5.Rejection of the recommendation for reducing the Holidays only to National Holidays and allowing the status-quo is welcome.

CONCLUSION:

The National Executive decision to go for an indefinite strike is the only alternative for opposing the retrograde stand of the Government on many issues like Need Based Minimum wage, Denial of Minimum 40% fitment benefit to all, Denial of Transport Allowance minimum 1200/-+DA on it for Metro and 800/-+DA on it for other places, Denial of Minimum 10% fixation benefit on promotion, Non-acceptance of SDA for all employees in NE Region etc. Let us concentrate to build a powerful movement by forging unity with all possible organisations outside the Confederation and let lose a powerful campaign and agitational programme to culminate in indefinite strike. Acceptance without further increase would result in huge loss.

WE HAVE TO SPEAK IN THE LANGUAGE THE GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS BEST - INDEFINITE STRIKE

Dear Comrades - the Pay commission orders through Gazette Notification is not yet done. The reason attributed to this delay is that the CAG [Comptroller and Auditor General] - the Constitutional Authority - who had been to Maldives and returned reportedly to Thiruvananthapuram is not yet signed. Whether it will be signed on his return to Delhi or the file will be taken to him to Thiruvananthapuram for signature is not clear. The Notification would be done only on his signature. But we are surprised to see so much of delay especially after the Government shown haste in deciding within 24 hours of submission by the Committee of Secretaries and announcing in the Honourable Prime Minister of India's Independence Day Speech after the Cabinet approved the same! Ostensible the tactics of the Government was to weaken the resolve of the CG Employees in joining the 20th August Strike and nothing else.

The Press Statement released by the Confederation immediately after the National Executive meeting on 26th; the Charter of Demands; the Resolution of the Executive are all placed hereunder. Kindly suggest improvements if any in the Charter of Demands before 10th September.

But now we have no other tangible option but to speak in a language that is best understood by the Government - the sustained agitations and industrial action - GENERAL SECRETARY AIPEU GROUP C

CONFEDERATION PRESS STATEMENT

Dated 27th August 2008

Confederation Decides to Organise Indefinite Strike

The extended meeting of the National Executive Committee of Confederation of Central Government employees and workers held at New Delhi on 26th August, 2008 deliberated upon the refusal of the Government of India to accept any of the major suggestions made by the Employees organizations under the auspices of the JCM National Council, on the 6th CPC recommendations.It noted with disappointment that the Government did nothing to correct the wide disparity in wages amongst the employees and officers accentuated by the recommendation of the 6th CPC.

By suppressing minimum wage without any justifiable reason, the meeting noted that the wage structure of Group B, C and D cadres has been depressed with devastating impact for many years to come.The abolition of Group D posts numbering about 9 lakhs has opened up vast avenue for contractorisation of various Group D functions.It rightly observed that in the days to come the Government organizations will have more daily rated contract workers than regular employees.

The meeting came to the conclusion that the Government's decision warrants serious agitational approach and decided to call upon the Central Government employees to mobilize themselves for an indefinite strike Programme to generate necessary sanctions to compel the Government to enter into meaningful discussion over these issues with the employees' organizations and settle them satisfactorily. All the constituent units of the Confederation have been advised to meeting in their national convention/conference and endorse the decision of the indefinite strike action immediately.The National Executive Committee will again meet after holding discussion with the sister organizations in Defence etc. in the month of November, 2008 to decide upon the date on which the said indefinite strike action should commence.

The strike will be organized in the first fortnight of December, 2008 if the Government does not come forward for discussion, negotiation and settlement of the under mentioned Charter of Demands.

[K.K.N.Kutty]

Secretary General

Confederation Circular

D/11/13/08 Dated: 27th August, 2008

Dear Comrade,

The extended meeting of the National Executive of Confederation was held on 26th August, 2008 at New Delhi ( at ITRecreation Club hall). The representatives of twenty affiliated All India organizations and elevenState COCs were present at the meeting, besides the National Executive members.

It was thus a well represented meeting. The meeting briefly reviewed the strike Participation of Central Govt. employees on 20th August 2008 and endorsed the Press statement issued by the Confederation on that day, which had indicated the overall picture. The meeting evaluated that the announcement of the Govt.'s acceptance of the 6th CPC recommendation (even though major demands of the employees had been rejected) had created certain confusion amongst the rank and file ofthe workers, which had adversely affected the strike participation incertain areas, especially the northern and western India. The meeting attributed this mostly to the failure to combat the media propaganda.

The meeting came to the conclusion that the Govt.'s decision without conceding any of the major suggestions made by the employees organizations in theJCM was a serious matter and if not contested would bring about devastating impact on the wage structure of the Central Govt. employees. The meeting pinpointed the following issues, on which absolutely unsatisfactory position has been taken by the Govt.

The meeting also took note of the delay in the submission of the report ofNatraja moorthy Committee on GDS Pay revision.

The meeting came to the unanimous opinion that

a)without organizing a serious industrial action of a prolonged nature includingindefinite strike, no fruitful/meaningfulnegotiation or settlement is likely to be brought about.

b) a serious campaign has to be under-taken by holding department/organization- wise convention and state wise conventions to mobilize the employees for a militantaction like indefinite strike.

c) Besides the CPC related issues, the other major pending issues, viz Compassionate Appointment, Board of Arbitration awards, Continuing ban on recruitment and abolition of posts, Outsourcing, Privatization, Contractorization, Regularization of existing daily rated workers, Bonus ceiling etc. should also be projected for settlement through the strike charter.

d)Serious consultation with the leadership of AIDEF should be made to explore the possibility of a united action.

e) Strike ballot has to be employed as a means of mobilization and to ensure that the decision for such a serious action has the seal of approval of all members.

f) The date of commencement of such action is to be decidedby the National Executive on conclusion of the strike ballot by all the affiliates and in consultation with the sister organizations.

g)the proposed action should be slated to take place within a period of 3- 4 months time.

h) The draft resolution and charter of demands prepared by the Secretariat will be placed in the website as early as possible to elicit suggestions and amendments to reach the CHq by 10th Sep.,2008

i) 19th Sept. will be observed as "Strike Declaration day" (SANGHARSH AHWAN DIVAS) throughout the country to popularize the demands and submit the resolution of NE meeting to all heads ofoffices and departments.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

K.K. N. Kutty

Secretary General.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1.Grant Rs.10,000 as Minimum Wage as per 15th ILC Norms.

2.Grant minimum fitment benefit of 2.625 times of pre-revised basic pay to bring about uniform rise in emoluments.

3.No abolition of Group D posts and functions.

4.Lift ban on recruitment; fill up all vacant posts and scrap Screening Committee.

9.No reduction in the commutation value and restoration of full pension after 12 years.

10.Grant statutory defined pension scheme to the employees recruited after 1.1.2004 and withdraw the PFRDA Bill from Parliament.

11.Compute the pension entitlement on the basis of notional pay as on 1.1.1996.

12.No performance related pay or bonus scheme.

13.Implement all Board of Arbitration Awards.

14.Remove the arbitrary 5% ceiling and 3 years condition on compassionate appointment and withdraw court cases and absorb all waitlisted RRR candidates.

15.Implement the revision of bonus ceiling @ 3500/- in the case of Government Employees; Remove adhoc bonus and replace it with PLB and remove the 60 days ceiling.

16.Grant SDA to all employees in NE Region.

17.Revise the Transport and Daily Allowances as demanded by the Staff Side JCM National Council.

18.Direct all the Departmental Heads to settle 6th CPC related department specific demands / problems within a stipulated time limit.

R e s o l u t i o n

adopted atthe Extendedmeeting of the National Executive of the Confederation heldat New Delhi

on 26-08-2008.

This extended meeting of the National Executive of the Confederation of CGE and Workers held at New Delhi on 26 Aug 2008 unanimously resolves that the decisions taken by the Govt. on various recommendations of the 6th CPC, as is made known are unacceptable in as much as most of the modifications suggested by the employees organizations unitedly to reverse the anti-employee stand of the Commission have been rejected.

The Govt.'s propaganda that it has raised the minimum wage to Rs.7000/- is an untrue statement for the lowest level employees it works out to only Rs.6,040/- on the basis of which only the pay structure has been constructed.The non-acceptance of the suggestion to revise the fitment formula has resulted in the financial benefit flowing in a fortuitous manner whereby the senior employees and those in the higher scale of Pay of the bunched pay scales getting lesser than their juniors.It is deplorable that the arrears are to be paid in two installments of which the major chunk having been deferred by one year especially when the interim relief demanded by the employees was denied.There had been no improvement made in the grant of transport allowances, daily allowance, financial benefit on promotion commutation value of Pension etc.The meeting notes with extreme dissatisfaction that while the commutation value has been drastically reduced the restoration period has not been altered.

It appears that the Govt. has decided to accept the proposal for introduction of Performance related Pay System.Doing away with the present Bonus computation methodology and continue with the drastic downsizing measures and to do away with the Group D employees and hand over their functions for contractors are some of the other major decisions that affect adversely the career and job security of the employees. Themeeting realizes that the abolition of Gr.D posts is intended to usher in large scale contractorisation of the permanent and perennial types of jobs.The meeting also notes with pain that the revision of wages effected on the basis of the present decision of the Government will have a deleterious effect in the long run and over a period continuation of 5th Pay scales and allowances would become more beneficial to the employees.while appreciating the decision of the Govt. to raise the ACP from 2 to 3 in acceptance of the suggestion made by the Staff side JCM in their memorandum and the slight increase in the rate of increment and the correction carried out in respect of the actual receipt of DA as on 01-01-2006.

The meeting realizes that the notification on acceptance of the recommendation of the 6th CPC as and when issued will make the picture clearer and the real purport and impact would become discernible to the mass of the employees.

The meeting has come to the inescapable conclusion that without an industrial action of a prolonged duration, no settlement would come about on the CPC related issues.The meeting therefore calls upon the affiliates of the Confederation to mobilize the rank and file of the membership for an eventual industrial action including strike action to take place with the next 2-3 months.The meeting also decides that besides the 6th CPC related common issues the Charter should also include the long pending common issues and department specific demands arising from the acceptance of 6th CPC suggestions by the Govt.

The meeting specifically decides that the demand for pension and Civil Servant status toGrameen Dak Sewaks must be included in the strike charter of demands.

The meeting has directed the Secretariat to get in touch with the leadership of the AIDEF to explore the possibility of the Defence Workers joining and leading the proposed strike action.

The meeting calls upon all affiliates to organize a strike ballot after extensive mobilization campaign and presentation of the issues before the mass of the membership and to complete the same by 10th November, 2008. The meeting asks the Secretariat to bring home the negative impact of the Govt.'s decision through a pamphlet

This meeting decides that the next meeting of the National Executive should meet before 20th November, 2008 to review the preparation made and take appropriate decision.

The meeting also calls upon all affiliated Associations/Federations to hold a national Convention enlisting the participation of leaders of all Units for mobilization of the grass root membership.

The meeting also calls up on the leaders of all State C-o-Cs to hold State level conventions eliciting the participation of the unit leaders of all affiliated Associations/Unions in the respective States in a bid to prepare the membership for a serious struggle.

The meeting decided to call upon all affiliated to collect a donation of Rs. 20/- from each member as and when the arrears are disbursed and remit the same to the Confederation CHQ.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

At the call of the NFPE, the Postal Employees all over the country reacted with determination and commitment in participating the the one-day strike on 20th August 2008. P3 CHQ and NFPE congratulate all the employees, who are members as well as non-members of our Unions / Associations, who joined the strike in response to its call.

NFPE is aware of the tremendous pressure put on the CG Employees in general and the Postal Employees in particular through the announcement of the Union Cabinet decision to implement the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. The Government had timed the announcement just on the eve of the strike with clear intention to weaken the resolve of the CG Employees from going ahead with the strike. NFPE is also aware of some vacillating and weaker forces inside our movement, which could not stand up against the pressure mounted by the Government. NFPE is also aware of some anti-struggle forces which always criticise any decision of the NFPE or Confederation to join hands with the National Trade Union Centres and All India Federations and Unions of Public Sector Employees and State Government Employees & Teachers for common issues as political and make all out efforts to sabotage such common movement launched in defence of safeguarding our interests on the face of mounting attack of globalisation and liberalisation.

Therefore the successful launch of strike on 20th August 2008 by lakhs of Postal Employees including Gramin Dak Sewaks is a big feat and achievement. In comparison to earlier strikes against the neo-liberal policies the strike on 20th August 2008 is a big leap forward as this strike has been launched in the backdrop of announcement of implementation of recommendations of pay commission.

CHQ and NFPE congratulates all such brave membership and the rank and file leadership of all our branches / divisions / circles who with single mindedness and commitment organised the strike with utmost discipline. It is such disciplined and committed leaders and workers who are the pillars of our great organisation 'NFPE'.

The strike was total and complete in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. In fact there was complete Bandh and every activity including transportation on road, sea and air came to a grinding halt. The strike was total in Assam including the administrative offices and there was a near bandh like situation outside. The North Eastern Circle registered a tremendous strike with 5 out of 7 States of NE went on hundred percent strike and the remaining two States more than 85% strike. Even the difficult terrained Nagaland recorded 100% strike. In Bihar there was a total bandh all over the state and news media reported total strike in various sectors and postal operations were hit harshly. There was total strike of postal employees in Chhattisgarh Circle. The Andhra Circle went on a magnificent strike with more than 90% strike and 99% strike by the administrative employees. Despite open and subtle efforts by some NFPE leaders to weaken the strike in Tamilnadu, many divisions organised highly successful strike and showed that no force can stop the entirety of postal workers from joining strikes as disciplined soldiers of NFPE. The strike was 80% successful in Madhya Pradesh. Orissa organised a good strike and 100% strike recorded in RMS and Administrative offices in Orissa. Bhubaneswar GPO was total strike and Bhubaneswar City Postal also total strike. Jharkhand 50% strike in postal. In Karnataka more than 80% workers went on strike in RMS and the strike percentage was comparatively less in Postal due to confusion and vacillations shown by certain Circle leadership. The strike percentage was more than 60% in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Gujrat and more than 40% in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in RMS. The Postal Accounts of Delhi recorded 80% strike. We have information the participation of postal side is comparatively less in these circles. For a complete strike participating figures NFPE requests all Circle Secretaries to send comprehensive written report by mail or email to NFPE and respective CHQs immediately.

We have done our duty and performed on the face of such adverse conditions. The path of united struggles has to be further strengthened on the face of renewed determination of the Government to go ahead with speedy pension reforms and other economic reforms within a few months before the general elections. Only with stronger unity and sustained struggle, we will be able to defend our social security rights and also the existence of our services in the near future.

Our CHQ and NFPE once again red salutes all strikers and extends a warm congratulation for the rank and file leadership which showed determination in carrying out the strike call. We are proud of you comrades.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The following update of strike situation as reported by Comrades from different Circles are furnished:

1. ASSAM: Comrade Sailia Assam P3 Circle President reports 100% strike by NFPE in Assam. Comrade G.Talukdar AGS R3 reports that Guwahati Circle Office, Dibrugarh HPO, Guwahati GPO and all Post Offices in the Assam Circle total strike and in RMS near total strike. He also reports that including FNPO members throughout the circle participated in strike. Only a very few FNPO members in Guwahati RMS, Tezpur RMS, NL RMS, NBG RMS reported for duty. It is also reported that outside in the entire Assam it wears a bandh like situation.

2. ANDHRA: Comrade Panduranga Rao Circle Secretary GDS reports that the strike is upto 90% in many divisions. According to preliminary reports the circle average of strike is 65%. Comrade D.A.S.V.Prasad Circle Secretary P3 reports that 98% of NFPE Members constituting more than 70% of total employees in the Circle are on strike. Comrade K.Ramachandram Circle Secretary Admn Union reports 99% strike of administrative employees..

3. BENGAL: Comrade Nirmal De Circle Secretary P4 reports total strike in entire West Bengal Circle. Due to bandh including flights and all kinds of transportation is paralysed. All Post Offices are closed. Comrade Bardhan Circle Secretary R3 reports total strike in RMS in the entire Circle.

6. KERALA: Comrade M.Krishnan P3 Circle Secretary and All India President reports total bandh in Kerala Circle and all HPOs including Thiruvanandhapuram GPO, Chief PMG Office total strike. No transportation due to bandh also.

7. NORTH EAST: Comrade Ramani Bhattacharyya Circle Secretary P3 reports that the strike is total in 5 States of NE Circle and above 85% in Shillong. The entire Circle Office is 100% strike after a long time.Comrade Debnath and Tapas Nath from Tripura report 100% strike in entire Tripura and due to picketing even the FNPO members could not attend office. The DPS also did not enter office and even the control room could not function.

8. TAMILNADU: Comrade Ramaswamy President P3 Divisional President reports total strike in Erode Division. Widespread strike reported in many divisions. Despite some forces attempted to sabotage the strike, good amount of postal employees including GDS are on strike in Tamilnadu.

Government tried to disrupt the unity of struggle platform by announcing pay commission implementation on the eve of strike on 14th august 2008 – but cg employees including postal staff proved in many circles that they are not selfish lot to get divided and separated from the rest of the indian working class.

NFPE congratulates circle secretaries and divisional and branch secretaries who like disciplined soldiers of our militant organization acted to make the strike total success. Initial reports received at about 8 AM are given below:

Jharkhand Circle GDS Circle Secretary Arun Kumar Tiwari reported total strike in Postal and other industries in Jharkhand Circle and whole state come to a stand still due to bandh by left parties.

Chhattisgarh P-4 Circle Secretary reports that the entire circle recorded a very good strike.

Comrade Mohandas Deputy Circle Secretary of Tamilnadu P-4 Circle reported that his native division Thanjavur recorded very good strike in P4 and GDS.

All Circle Secretaries and Divisional / Branch Secretaries are requested to send SMS to P3 CHQ:09868545552 and NFPE: 09868819295 or 09444919295] or E-mail tokayveeyes@gmail.com and nfpehq@gmail.com about the strike situation in their places for updating in the NFPE Website periodically.